I first read about this over at the Collaboration Cuties blog this summer. After that I head out to The Dollar Tree and picked some up. I have some in a bin near our white boards and each student has one in their desk for...

It goes in a page protector and each morning we work on our number skills etc at the same time that some students are eating breakfast. I got this idea from Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits and her amazing Rise and Shine Binders. I was very worried about this new breakfast program and the possibility of food spills and wasting paper on students who were eating and not completing the page but so far this is working out lovely!

3. Individual reading boxes. I got this idea from everyone!! I bought the magazine holders from Ikea and took pictures of my students reading for the labels - loving the boxes.

4. Color drawers. I got this idea from Tonya's Treats for Teachers. I decided back in June to group our class supplies by color baskets and have now gone to the drawer system. Loving the drawers - love, love, love! I am using the baskets I was first using for...

5. Group recycling baskets. I started using interactive notebooks this year and we produce a lot of paper that needs to be recycled. The getting up and recycling and paper on the floor was driving me a little bit bonkers. But I saw this idea every where online and had one of those - I am so stupid, why did I not think of that - moments. I put the baskets out in the middle of my groups when we are cutting out our awesome foldables and I Can statements :) and all of the extra paper pieces go in. No one is walking around and there is less (still some) paper on the floor. I do not have class jobs but a teacher of the day and this person is called on to dump them all or I usually have an early finisher and just a super sweet student empty them before I ask.

That is it 5 little tips or tricks I have tried that are really working out well in my classroom this year. Be sure to stop by Holly's amazing blog to see what else people are trying!!

I tried those pom poms glued on the ends of the dry eraser markers-fail! I need to write about that next week! Do the pads work? Do you have to wash them often?So many great tips!JoanneHead Over Heels For Teaching

You are so smart and organized. Love the idea of the group recycling bins instead of trash cans. Can you believe my school used to do recycling and now the people won't pick it up anymore. It's heartbreaking.AlisonRockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

Now I am like, Duh! Why didn't I think of that? I definitely need to get some group recycling baskets. My group baskets for supplies are also not working out (the glue bottles are tipped on their side and that is a major disaster when the students do not twist the cap closed!). Time for a trip to the Dollar Tree...Those face pads look great for dry erase boards too!~HollyFourth Grade Flipper

Such great ideas! Thanks for sharing!! I especially like the idea of using page protectors for morning work. We also have a breakfast program and this would help with spills. Plus we have copy limits and this is perfect!A Tall Drink of Water